The tragedy struck at 12.15 am today in Kotrupi village in Padhar sub-division of Mandi district.

One of the state roadways bus was hit by the landslide debris and skidded off the road, falling down by almost a kilometre.

Another state roadways bus, which was on its way from Manali to Katra, was also hit by the landslide debris.

At least a dozen small vehicles are also trapped. A four-storey building too collapsed while several other houses were partly damaged in the landslide. Some families said they lost their cattle in the landslide.

A stretch of the National Highway 21, that passes through Mandi, has been closed fearing more landslides.

Rescue operations at accident site.

"The landslide debris fell on two moving state transport buses. One bus was on its way from Chamba to Manali. It is not known how many passengers were in the bus which is under the debris. Efforts are on to rescue the trapped passengers," DIG, Northern Range, Ajay Kumar Yadav said.

In another landslide reported on Saturday at Dwara on Chandigarh-Manali highway, two people were injured when the debris fell on a moving car. The local administration has warned of more landslides on the Chandigarh-Manali highway.